By Dorcas Francis Koji
National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade has expressed confidence in Lagos State’s ability to successfully host the inaugural National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, describing the competition as a major opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s sporting potential and discover the next generation of athletes.
Olopade gave the assurance during a joint technical meeting of the Main Organising Committee and Local Organising Committee held over the weekend, where he praised Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his administration for their commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.
The NSC Director-General said the level of preparation by Lagos had demonstrated the state’s readiness to host an event of national importance.
“When you look at the build-up to the first National Intermediate Games, you cannot but marvel at the leadership that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given to sports in this country,” Olopade said.
He noted that Lagos had gone beyond making plans by putting systems and facilities in place to ensure the successful delivery of the Games.
“You have not only started putting in place systems and facilities, but you have also brought out the best of your leadership to drive these Games,” he added.
Olopade stressed that the importance of EKO 2026 goes beyond the inaugural edition, saying the foundation being laid should enable the National Intermediate Games to develop into a major fixture on Nigeria’s sporting calendar.
He therefore urged members of the technical committee and other stakeholders to give the competition the necessary attention and ensure that it is projected as one of the country’s major sporting events.
The NSC boss also highlighted the importance of using competitions involving secondary school athletes to identify and nurture young sporting talents across the country.
According to him, some of the performances he witnessed at sporting competitions in Asaba and Abeokuta reinforced the need to create more opportunities for young athletes to showcase their abilities.
He further encouraged stakeholders to channel their efforts towards making the Intermediate Games a success while the country continues to address other challenges confronting Nigerian football.
EKO 2026 is scheduled to take place from October 1 to 15, with about 15,000 young athletes from across Nigeria expected to participate.
The Games are designed to provide a structured platform for talent identification and development, potentially creating a stronger pathway for promising young athletes to progress from school-level competition to elite national and international sports.
With Lagos taking centre stage for the maiden edition, expectations are high that EKO 2026 will mark a significant step forward in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen grassroots sports development and build a sustainable pipeline of future champions.
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